Shortcuts sometimes just aren't the answer.

[Bob Marino]

  Like many, I sometimes look for the quick way to do things - could be most anything, but often as not comes back to bite me.
Two cases in point - one dangerous, one a time waster.

  A few months ago, I had to go to the attic of my garage to find something and rather than change into a pair of shoes - which were in the bedroom, I went out in my soft soled slippers. Well, at the top of the garage attic stairs, I lost my balance  - as the soles had way too much give in them, and started to fall backwards, but I was able to grab the stair handrail in time. Ironically enough, if I didn't grab the handrail in time, I would have fallen smack on to my CT 26's hose metal holder and at the very  least gotten a pneumothorax (punctured lung).

Living in NJ, I have a set of snow tires and all season tires both on dedicated wheels. A couple of weeks ago, i was getting them swapped out at the Firestone dealer. Soooooo, to ensure that the tires were going to be rotated correctly, instead of looking around for some tape to identify each tires's position (driver/passenger - front/rear) I took a felt marker and wrote the position  on each wheel - in a few areas in case it rubbed off. Well, the felt pens were permanent markers and to get that scribbling off each wheel took about a half hour of washing/scrubbing/rewashing, etc.

Sometimes - actually almost always - a little more time up front can save way more trouble later on.

 

[RKA]

I still learning that lesson, but it became crystal clear to me two years ago when I cracked a rib all because I wanted to save myself of a 10 second delay getting off a riding tractor to move a branch.  3 days later I visited the ER due to the pain.  This is something I now have to live with since it results in intermittent pain.  At 20 years old it’s probably impossible to sustain such an injury by reaching down toward the ground (perhaps letting your upper body’s momentum carry you that one extra inch toward the ground to grab the offending stick).  But after 45 years, you should think twice.

Sometimes that 10 seconds saved is not worth it. 

 

[Bob Marino]

Sometimes that 10 seconds saved is not worth it.

  Exactly!

 

[RustE]

I used to write tire positions on the inner sidewall with a grease crayon.  While it does wear off eventually, it’s rather easy to touch-up.

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Bob

I have a ladder going to the upstairs space in my workshop. When I was building my barn I had a large cardboard box full of the special 110 mm screws that I would be using to secure the roof. That box was on the top of a small chest of drawers near the bottom of the ladder.

I slipped and fell backwards, only about a vertical 4ft, and landed with my back squarely on top of the large box of screws. Not a single one punctured me or my jacket and they served to break my fall as they were loosely packed. I said a very special prayer that evening.

Maybe if we were lucky enough to share a beer together one day (I would like that) we can swap stories and I can tell you about my real ladder accident - too long winded for the FOG.

Peter

 

[Cheese]

I used to write tire positions on the inner sidewall with a grease crayon.  While it does wear off eventually, it’s rather easy to touch-up.

I also write the tire position on the inside sidewall of the tire with a yellow grease crayon as I'm pulling the tires off to swap them out. That way the grease crayon doesn't wear off because the tires won't be put into service for the next 6 months.  [smile]

 

[Sparktrician]

I've been using a Brady BMP-21 labeler to mark the wheels when I shift from 3-season to winter wheels/tires and back.  Much more legible than a felt-tip marker, plus I can peel them off and replace them when I rotate the assemblies.  Cleaning the wheels down to the finish is important to get a good bond when applying the labels. 

 

[Bob Marino]

Hi Bob

I have a ladder going to the upstairs space in my workshop. When I was building my barn I had a large cardboard box full of the special 110 mm screws that I would be using to secure the roof. That box was on the top of a small chest of drawers near the bottom of the ladder.

I slipped and fell backwards, only about a vertical 4ft, and landed with my back squarely on top of the large box of screws. Not a single one punctured me or my jacket and they served to break my fall as they were loosely packed. I said a very special prayer that evening.

Maybe if we were lucky enough to share a beer together one day (I would like that) we can swap stories and I can tell you about my real ladder accident - too long winded for the FOG.

Peter

Hey Peter,

Sure, sharing a beer and some stories sounds like fun. Would you ever cross the pond for the Festool Connect event?

 

[Bob Marino]

  I like the idea of writing the tire position in the inside but I figured the guys at the shop might not see it. Anyhow, all good ideas.

 

[Stone Message]

Hey Peter,

Sure, sharing a beer and some stories sounds like fun. Would you ever cross the pond for the Festool Connect event?

I would love to if Festool would fly me across business class - my arthritis could not manage a long haul flight in economy and my funds are not up to it either. We can pretend to have a beer together instead.

Cheers.

Peter

 

[Tinker]

I don't have one about my timesaver accident at the moment.  I am writing today stories about some of the things that have happened with and to my son over the years. He has been riding with me almost since he learned to walk. He has been driving my equipment almost as long. I have never tried to discourage him from doing anything that i couldn't do.  I never told him to do anything I would not do. He has always wanted to run my equipment until he now has machines that require WIDE LOAD sign to move, even across the street. I have always preached safety.  While he was learning, the safety rules were very strictly enforced. Any safety rule that was skipped over meant a period of time where he was not allowed on any piece of machinery. That, to my son, was a fate worse than death, so to speak.

One of the safety rules I taught him was to never start a machine that had a seat unless he was sitting on that seat comfortably.  He went into his own business and bought excavating equipment at the tender, and barely beyond adolescence, age of 19. By then, he still knew more than I had forgotten. I had given him one of my backhoes for a trade in for a mini excavator.  One afternoon, for whatever reason, he tried starting his tracked machine while standing on the ground and reaching into the cab while standing on the ground beside the machine. To reach the starter key, he had to reach across the control bank of levers. As the machine started, his arm hit the handle that made the machine move forward. As it moved forward, the track ran over his foot and he was pinned in place. Luckily, somebody was with him that day and he called for help. The man who was with him had never run equipment. David, because the controls do not know which direction,having 360º positioning, to move to get the machine to move which way, had to think which way the unfamiliar operator should move the lever to move the tracks the 5 or 6 inches needed to free his foot.  Luckily, he gave the correct direction to move the lever. Luckily, the ground was soft mud and he only broke one bone in his foot. I never said, "I told you this could happen."  but I did laugh when he reminded from an emergency room gurney that, indeed, I had told him it could happen many years before.
Tinker

 

[deepcreek]

Glad you're okay, Bob.

These are good words of advice that will hopefully help someone avoid injury or worse.

I've learned not to ignore the little voice in my head that tries to get my attention right before I take a shortcut that might allow things to go awry.  I admit I don't always listen but more times than not.  It just pays to take the time to do things the right way.

Next time try some denatured alcohol on that sharpie or permanent marker.  Generally takes it right off.

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Sharpie can usually be removed with denatured alcohol. Paint markers are more problematic, although some brands like the Japanese Decocolor paint have “Remover” markers available. The remover markers may have something like xylene in them though so that should be taken into consideration in regards to the removal surface.

 

[leakyroof]

I used to write tire positions on the inner sidewall with a grease crayon.  While it does wear off eventually, it’s rather easy to touch-up.

I also write the tire position on the inside sidewall of the tire with a yellow grease crayon as I'm pulling the tires off to swap them out. That way the grease crayon doesn't wear off because the tires won't be put into service for the next 6 months.  [smile]

.  ^^^^^^ This.  Almost standard practice around here since a quick swipe of a rag with WD-40 or Mineral Spirits on it will wipe the crayon off if needed.
I’m laughing since I just swapped out both cars Snow Tires this week for the All Seasons... [wink]

 

[sancho57]

Well Bob and everyone else

I was using my TS 75 in the CMS that I dont have. I was to lazy to walk over to get the normal fence that  I normally use ( One for the prescio 50 that can be used on the CMS) and used the protractor (angle stop) as the fence. My thoughts were well thats the fence that came with it so Im good right?

Well I ended up using my left hand instead of my right. Took my eye off the blade for what seemed like a mili sec and well,

We all seen the photo of my cut off finger tip right?

Ivebeen  getting away with being lazy and being over confident and not using all the safety devices that come with the tools for so long I didnt think anything about doing it one more time.

Well, I definitely do now.

Sometimes we need that wake up call.

I got a flat tip on a index finger to remind me.

You were very lucky and Im very happy nothing happened to you and you are able to come here and post about it.